Folding box



July 11, 1939. m 2,165,906

FOLDING BOX Filed Sep t. 2, 1938 2 Sheds-Sheet 1 v m 7mm. 2 ATTORNEYS.

S. REICH FOLDING Box Jul 11, 1939.

Filed Sept. 2, 1938 2 Sheets-$heet 2 54/0054 Pas/ca INVE NTOR Patented Jilly 11, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDING BOX Samuel Belch, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application September 2, 1938, Serial No. 228,149 6 Claims. (01. 229- 1) The invention relates to improvements in folding boxes.

In the construction of hexagonal folding cardboard boxes such as that set forth/3n Berkowitz Patent No. 1,555,054, granted September 29, 1925, it has been the practice to integrally connect certain of the side walls to adjacent sides of the hexagonal bottom wall by a folding web, with the web folded upon itself when the box is set up for use with the result that the bottom wall and the weight of the contents of the box is supported by the folded edges of the webs. Such construction is objectionable in that the folded supporting edges of the webs do not provide a strong support for the bottom wall, nor do they positively limit the unfolding of the bottom wall which may be accidentally pushed outwardbeyond its intended flat set up position. It is therefore one of the important objects of this invention to provide a folding box in which the folding webs which connect certain of the side walls with the bottom wall assume an unfolded position when the box is set up for use which relieves the folded webs of the strain of the weight of the bottom wall and prevents outward folding of the bottom wall beyond its intended flat unfolded position.

Another feature of the invention resides in a folding box which is formed from a single blank of cardboard and which is so designed as to enable the successive cutting of the blanks from stock with a minimum amount of loss caused by waste material.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a folding box which is inexpensive of manufac ture, which may be folded flat into compact form for storing and shipping purposes, which is easy to set up for use; and which is strong and rigid when in set up position for use.

Other features of the invention will be apparent from the following specification when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: t

Figure 1 is a plan view of the blank from which a hexagonal folding box is constructed.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the hextgonal folding box inunfolded set up position for use.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical transverse sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the set up box with a cover in closed position thereon and with parts broken away 'toiillustrate'one of the web flanges.

Figure 6 is a folded position.

Figure '7 is a top plan view of the box in substantially fully folded position.

Figure 8 is an enlarged horizontal sectional I view on the line 8-8 of Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view on the line 9-4 of Figure 7. a

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional view on the line ill-l0 of Figure 7.

Referring to the drawings by reference characters, and more particularly at this time to Figure 1 of the drawings, the letter A designates a cardboard blank from which my improved hexagonal folding box is constructed. The blank A includes a hexagonal bottom wall I 0 defined by six equal length score lines H, l2, i3, i4, i5, and Hi. The bottom wall 10 is provided with a central score line I! which is disposed parallel to the score lines H and it to divide the bottom wall 10 into a pair of inwardly foldable bottom wall sections l8 and I9. Integral with the botperspective view of the box in torn wall sections I 8 and I9 are two series of side walls B and C. The series of side walls B consists of three side wall sections 20, 2i, and 22, which correspond to three of the sides of the bottom wall l0 and the side wall sections are foldable on the score lines 23 and 24. The side wall section 20 is directly connected to the bottom wall-section l8 and has its free side provided with 30.

a glue flap 25.

The series of side walls C consists of three side wall sections 26, 21, and 2B, and this series extends in a direction opposite to the series B. The side wall sections 26, 21, and 28, correspond to three of the side edges ofithe bottom wall l0 and are foldable on the score lines 29 and 30. The sidewall section 26 is directly connected to the bottom wall section I9 along the line of fold l4 and the said side wall section is provided at its 40 free side with a glue flap 3|.

From a description thus far,it will be noted that only two of the side walls of the box are integrally connected to the bottom wall Ill and that these two side walls are oppositely disposed. Integral 46 with the other four sides of the bottom wall It) along the score lines l2, l3, l5, and 16, are web connections D, E, F, and G. The web connections D, E, F, and G are identical in construction and include triangular shaped foldable web sec- 50 tions 32 which are integral with the respective sides of the bottom wall to along the fold lines i2, l3, l5, and IG. Integral with each foldable web section 32 is a triangular shaped attaching section or flap 33, the foldable web sections 32 being b foldable on the respective flaps 33 along the diagonal fold lines 34. The free ends of the foldablesections 33 are cut short of the free ends of their associated attaching sections 33 to prevent the fold sections 33 from lapping the corners of the side walls when the blank is set up to box formation for use while retaining a maximum area of the attaching flaps 33.

Assume that Figure 1 is a face view of the inner side of the blank, thus when folding the blank, the series of side walls B and C are folded upwardly on the fold lines Ii and II, whereas the connecting webs D, E. F, and G are folded up along the fold lines l3, l3, l5,- and it. The side wall sections 3i and 22 are folded along the lines 23 and 34 to fit the side edges of the bottom wall I. along the fold lines I! and i3, and the wall section 20 is connected to the with section If by the glue flap 3|. The side wall sections 21 and 30 are folded upon the lines 29 and 30 to fit against the remaining two sides of the bottom wall ll defined by the fold lines I! and I. The free end of the side wall section 23 is connected to the side wall section 20 by the glue flap 25 Thus the side walls are connected one with the other and the web connections D, E, F, and G, respectively fit against the side wall sections 2|, H, II, and 23. The attaching flaps 33 are provided with adhesive 35 as shown in Figure and which attaching flaps are respectively connected to the above mentioned side walls. The bottom wall I. is still flat and the folding web sections 32 are in the same plane as the attaching flaps 33 with which they are respectively associated. The box is collapsed to the position shown in Figures 6 to inclusive by pushing inwardly upon the bottom wall I. to cause the bottom wall to fold on the line H, whereuporathe bottom wall sections II and I! move upwardly at which time the folding web sections 32 fold on the lines 34 to a position substantially flat against their associated attaching flaps 33.. When in collapsed position, the folding flaps 32 unfold on the fold lines l2, l3, ii, and I0 whereupon the said fold flaps are co-extensive with the bottom wall sections and assume a position on the same plane as the sections as illustrated in Figure 8. Also, when collapsed, the web connections are disposed inwardly of the bottom edges of the side walls by reason of the angularity of the fold lines 34 which extend upwardly from the corner edges of adjacent side wall sections.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that when the box is in a collapsed position as shown in Figures 6 to II inclusive, the web connections are folded and a relatively thin and compact structure is provided which enables the packing, shipping and storing of the boxes in a small amount of space. To set up the box for use from the collapsed position shown in Figures 6 to 10, the operator grasps the opposed side walls 2| and 26 and pulls outwardly, thus causing the bottom wall sections l8 and I! to move down to a flat horizontal position and simultaneously effecting an unfolding of the folding sections 32 of the web connections, whereupon they assume a position flat against the adjacent side. walls in the same plane as their related attaching flaps 33. Thus any weight placed on the bottom wall i0 is supported by the adhesive bond between the attaching flaps 33 and the adjacent side walls. Furthermore, the folding of the web sections 32 so as to lie within the same plane of the attaching flaps 38 serves to limit the outward movement of the bottom wall ll, thus preventing accidental pushing of the bottom wall beyond the bottom of the side walls.

Byreasonof the shape of the blank A from which the hexagonal box is constructed, these blanks may be cut from stock with very little loss of material. Also, the blank may be glued and folded by machine so as to produce the collapsed box shown in Figures 6 to 10.

Whereas any construction of cover may be used in association with this hexagonal box, I have illustrated in Figure 5, the conventional hexagonal cover 36 which telescopes the open top of the box. I

In folding hexagonal boxes of this general type as shown in Berkowitz Patent No. 1,555,054; Morris Patent No. 1,501,913; Medley Patent No. 1,009,142, and others, it is the custom to thread a tie string through the bottom wall and opposite walls to secure the cover onto the box. Such a well known form of tie string may be employed in the hexagonal folding box herein shown and described but it is not believed necessary to illustrate the same.

Whereas I have shown and described a folding box of hexagonal shape in plan, the same construction may be used in the construction of a square of rectangular shaped box by making the score lines l2, I3, I! and ii at right angle to the score lines I l and I8 instead of at an obtuse angle.

While I have shown and described what I consider to be the most practical embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that such changes and alterations as come within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted to if desired.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is;

1. A foldable box comprising a polygonal bottom wall and a series of side walls, one side wall of one series being integral with one side of said bottom wall and one side wall of the other series being integral with the opposite side of said bottom wall, the bottom wall being creased along a diameter for collapsing upward between the opposite side walls, while the side walls are all uncreased and folded flat against the opposite sides of the folded bottom wall, and foldable web connections integral with the remaining sides of said bottom wall, each of said web connections being creased to provide an attaching section and a free folding section, the attaching sections of the web connections being adhesively secured to the respective corresponding side walls, said web connections being unfolded when the box is in open position to lie flat against the side walls to which they are secured.

2. A foldable box comprising a hexagonal bottom wall creased along a diameter to provide two inwardly foldable bottom sections, six side walls arranged in two series and corresponding to the sides of said bottom, two opposed side walls being integral with the opposed sides of the respective bottom sections, foldable web connections integral with the other sides of said bottom sections, each of said web connections being creased to provide an attaching portion and a free folding portion, said web connections having their attaching portions adhesively secured to the respective other four corresponding side walls, said web connections being folded when the box is collapsed and unfolded when the box is unfolded for use, and means for connecting the ends of one series of side walls to the ends of the other series of side walls.

3. A foldable box comprising a hexagonal bottom wall, two series of side walls, one side wall of one series being integral with and hinged to one side of said bottom wall and one side wall of the other series being integral with and hinged to the opposite side of said bottom wall, said bottom wall being creased along a diameter parallel with the axis of the hinge connection between the side walls and the bottom wall, foldable web flaps hinged to and integral with the other sides of said bottom wall, each of said web flaps being creased to provide an attaching flap section and a free folding flap section, the attaching flap sections of the web flaps being adhesively secured to the corresponding side walls inwardly of the bottom edges thereof, the free folding flaps being disposed in the same plane against the respective adjacent side walls when the box is in set up position for use and foldable upon the respective attaching flap sections when the box is in collapsed position, and means connecting the meeting ends of the two series of side walls together.

4. A foldable box comprising a hexagonal bottom wall, hingedly connected side walls corresponding to the sides of said hexagonal bottom wall, two opposed side walls having their lower ends integrally connected with two opposed sides of said bottom wall, said bottom wall having a.

central score line parallel to those edges of said bottom wall to which the two aforementioned side walls are integrally connected, and foldable web connections integral with the other sides of said bottom wall, each of said web connections being creased to provide an attaching section and a free foldable section, the free foldable sections of the web connections being adhesively connected to the inner sides of the respective other side walls, said web connections being parallel to their respective related side walls when the box is in set up position for use and being folded upon each other when the box is in collapsed position.

5. A folding box comprising a bottom wall having sets of opposed straight side edges, hingedly connected side walls, two opposed side walls having their lower ends integrally connected with two opposed sides of said bottom wall, said bottom wall having a central score line parallel to those edges of said bottom wall to which the two aforementioned side walls are integrally connected, and foldable web connections integral with the other sides of said bottom wall, each of said web connections being creased to provide an attaching section and a free foldable section, the attaching sections of the web sections being fixedly secured to the inner sides of the adjacent side walls, said web connections being unfolded when the box is in set up position for use and being folded upon each other when the box is collapsed.

6. A folding box comprising a bottom wall having sets of opposed straight side edges, hingedly connected side walls, two opposed side walls being integral with and hinged to two opposed side edges of said bottom wall, said bottom wall being creased along a diameter parallel with the axis of the hinge connection between the two opposed side walls and said bottom wall, and foldable web flaps hinged to and integral with the other sides of said bottom wall, each of said web flaps being creased to provide an attaching ilap section and a free folding flap section, the attaching flap sections of the web flaps being secured to the other adjacent side walls inwardly of the bottom edges thereof, the free folding flaps being disposed in the same plane as the attaching flaps against the adjacent side walls when the box is in set up position for use and being foldable upon their respective attaching flap sections when the box is in collapsed position.

SAMUEL REICH. 

